Culinary and Fragrant Herbs of Religious Symbolism
Most of our culinary and fragrant herbs were grown at one time in medieval­monastery gardens or used by missionaries, In
this way they came to have popular names reflecting religious life and thought.
Some of the names came from the liturgical feasts in the Church calendar for which plants normally were in bloom or fruit.
Others came from striking plant shapes which brought to mind events of the Bible or thoughts about the life of the Holy
Family. Many fragrant, soothing and healing herbs were associated especially with Mary, the mother of Jesus, because they
suggested her sweetness and maternal solicitude.
The following religious names of herbs have been gleaned from dictionaries and floras of the old and new worlds. It is hoped
they will contribute to the lore of herbs and to the religious sense of herb gardening.
A summary of herb growth and uses has also been included. Further details are available from the many excellent herb books
and nurseries.
The following abbreviations are used:
Growth: Annual Biennial Perennial, Shrub. Height in inches. Parts Used: Flower, Leaf, Root, Seed Uses: Aromatic,
Flavorlngs, Potherb, Salad Greens, Teas
Botanical Name
Common Name
Religious Name
Gr Ht Parts Uses
Achellea millefol. Yarrow
Our Lord's Back
P 36 1
Allium schoenopras. Chives
Our Lady's Garleek P 24 1
Althea officinalis Marshmallow
Our Lady's Cheeses P 48 1
Anethium graveolens Dill
Devil-Away
AB 36 ls
Angellca archangel Angelica
Angel's Plant
BP 72 r
Apium graveolens
Celery
Virgin's Marsh Plant AB 36 ltf
Artemisia abrotanum Southernwd
Our Lord's Wood
P 48 l
Artemtsia absinth. Wormwood
Mary's Tree P 48 1 P 48 l
Artemlsla pontica Rom. Wormwood Our Lady's Needle
P 48 1
Asperula odorata
Sw. Woodruff Our Lady's Bedstraw P 8 1
Bellis perennis
Engl. Daisy
Mary-Love
B 8 1
Borago officinalis Borage
St. Joseph's Staff A 24 fwl
Calendula officin. Pot Marygold Marygold
A 24 f
Chrysanth.balsamita Costmary
Our Lady's Balsam
P 36 1
Cichorlum intybus Chicory
Heavenly Way
P 72 fir
Coriandrum sativum Coriander
St. John's Head
A 36 ls
Crocus sativus
Saffron Crocus Saffron
P 6 1
Cummin cyanum
Cumin
Cross-Cummin
A 6 s
Dianthus plumarius Clove Pink
Virgin Pink
P 18 r
Foenlculum vulgare Fennel
Our Lady's Fennel
AP 60 ls
Hierochloe odorata Holy Grass
Mary's Grass
P 24 1
Hypericum perforatm St. Johnswort Jesus' Blood Drops P 24 1
Botanical Name
Common Name
Hyssopos officinal. Hyssop
Inula helenium
Elecampagne
Iris florin., blue Orris Root
Laurus nobilis
Sweet Bay
Lavandula officin. Lavender
Levisticum officin. Lovage
Lilium candidum
Madonna Lily
Majorana hortensis Sw.Marjoram
Malva sylvestris
Purp.Mallow
Marrubium vulgare Horehound
Matricaria chamom. Gmn.Chamomile
Medicago sativa
Alfalfa
Melissa officinalis Lemon Balm
Mentha arvensis
Japanese Mint
Mentha crispa
Curly Mint
Mentha pulegium
Pennyroyal
Mentha requieni
Spanish Moss
Mentha spicata
Spearmint
Religious Name
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Gr Ht Parts Uses
St. Joseph's Plant P 18 1
Adam's Root
P 72 r
Madonna Iris
P 18 r
St. Bridget's Flower T 40ftl
Mary's Drying Plant S 36 fls
Our Lady's Duster
P 72 lrs
Mary Lily
P 48 f
Mother-of-God's Fl AP 24 1
Our Lady's Cheeses AB 36 lrs
Mother-of-God's Tea P 36 ls
Mary's Plant
A 24 fi
Holy Hay
P 36 1
Sweet Mary
P 2l ls
Our Lady's Plant
P 24 1
Cross-Mint
P 36 1
Our Lady's Flavoring P 6 1
Mother-of-Thousands P 2 1
Mary's Mint
P 24 1
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Monarda didyma
Bee-Balm
Sweet Mary
P 36
Myrrhis odorata
Sweet Cicely St. Barbara's Grass P 36
Nepeta cataria
Catnip
Mary's Nettle
P 36
Ocimum basilicum
Basil
Holy Communion Plant A 24
Origanum vulgare
Pot Marjorum Mary's Bedstraw
P 30
Paeonia officinalis Peony
Mary's Rose
P 36
Pelargonum lim.var. Lemon Geranium Lady Mary
P 12
Petrosolenium crisp.Parsley
O.Lady's Little Vine B 36
Pimpinella anisum Anise
Our Lady's Sprig
A 24
Primula veris
Cowslip Our
Lady's Keys
P 8
Primula vulgaris
Primrose
Our Lady's Frills
P 6
Rosa centifolia
Cabbage Rose The Virgin's Rose
P 72
Rosmarinus officin. Rosemary
Mary's Nosegay
S 72
Rumex acetosella
Sorrel
(M. Bitter Sorrow) P 36
Ruta graveolens
Rue
Herb O'Grace
P 36
Salvia officinalis Sage
Mary's Shawl
P 36
Salvia sclarea
Clary
Christ's Eye
B 36
Sanguisorba minor Burnet
St. Anthony's Button S 12
Satureja hortensis Sum.Savory
St. Joseph's Flower A 12
Symphytum officinal.Comfrey
Abraham,Isaac,Jacob P 36
Tagetes lucida
SweetM.Gold
Mary's Flower
A 18
Tanacetum vulgare Tansy
Jesus-Wort
P 36
Taraxicum officin. Dandelion
(M. BitterSorrow)
P 8
Thymus serphyllum Creeping Thyme Mary's Bedstraw
S 5
Thymus vulgaris
Thyme
The Virgin'sHumility S 8
Viola odorata
SweetViolet
Our Lady's Modesty P 6
Viola tricolor
Wild Pansy
Our Lady's Delight AB 8
Copyright Mary's Gardens 1965, 1996 fl
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